Hand-held electronic device with multiple input mode thumbwheel

Abstract

A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is generated by rotation of the holder about the second axis.

1. An input assembly comprising:
 a holder configured to hold a thumbwheel in an inclined position; 
 an arm extending around a bottom of the assembly towards the holder for engaging a bottom of the holder; and 
 a tactile switch positioned between the arm and the holder and activatable in response to a depression of an exposed part of the thumbwheel. 
 
     
     
       2. The input assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said thumbwheel is permitted rotation in any of a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction. 
     
     
       3. The input assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said holder comprises a bracket, said bracket configured to hold a rotary switch. 
     
     
       4. The input assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said holder is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
       5. The input assembly of  claim 4 , wherein rotation of said holder between the first position and the second position comprises a rocking motion therebetween. 
     
     
       6. The input assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotary switch configured to detect a first rotary input representative of rotation of the thumbwheel about a first rotation axis. 
 
     
     
       7. The input assembly of  claim 6 , wherein rotation of said thumbwheel forms the first rotary input. 
     
     
       8. The input assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said holder is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
       9. The input assembly of  claim 8 , wherein rotation of said holder between the first position and the second position comprises a rocking motion therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The input assembly of  claim 1  further comprising control logic configured to receive indications of detection of a first rotary input. 
     
     
       11. The input assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said control logic is configured to generate a first signal representative of input rotation in a first direction and to generate a second signal representative of input rotation in a second direction. 
     
     
       12. The input assembly of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of said holder about a rotation axis provides for a seesaw movement of said holder. 
     
     
       13. The input assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said holder comprises a rotating encoder switch with the thumbwheel sitting on the rotating encoder switch such that a lower axle of the thumbwheel sits in a recess on the rotating encoder switch allowing the thumbwheel to rotate around its axis of rotation. 
     
     
       14. The input assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the rotating encoder switch detects inputs to the device when the thumbwheel is rotated around the thumbwheel's axis of rotation. 
     
     
       15. The input assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the rotating encoder switch is attached to a thumbwheel assembly PCB. 
     
     
       16. The input assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the thumbwheel assembly PCB attaches to a device PCB by a flex circuit. 
     
     
       17. The input assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the thumbwheel assembly PCB is in contact with the tactile switch on the opposite side of the PCB than the rotatable encoder switch.